Although they don't often occur in the modules, it is pretty much guaranteed that throughout your time at University, you will have to prepare a presentation. These will more than likely be as a group, but it always helps to have some key presentation tips and advice that will enable you to create a decent and interesting presentation, that will hopefully achieve a high mark.
It is important that if your presentation is in a group format that you choose to be with students that you know you can work with - this might not always be the obvious choice of your friends, it might be somebody you know will help to motivate you and vice versa.
Presentations are often the most daunting assignment, even if you are a third year and know everybody in your class, it can be scary getting up and presenting your ideas in a way everybody will enjoy and understand.
It is important to plan your presentation, and the following list should help you formulate a good basis for your presentation;
1. Are you clear on the assessment criteria and the learning outcomes?
2. Have you taken into account your time limit?
3. Have you decided what media you are using? I.e. PowerPoint, Prezi, Poster etc
4. Are you clear what point(s) you would like to put forward?
5. What secondary points do you want to include, and do these enhance your overall concept?
6. Have you decided how you will keep the audience engaged?
7. Are you prepared for the possibility that you will be asked questions about your presentation?
Research is necessary for any assignment, and the same applies to your presentation. Remember that you will need to include secondary resources and direct quotes that will strengthen your point - these will need to be referenced!
Once you have created your plan, the group needs to come together to decide who will focus on which aspect, and who will have certain roles. It is key that this is done early on so that no work gets duplicated. Even small things like, who will change the slide over, how your change overs will work etc, are essential to achieving a good mark.
Although the presentation is a group assignment, there will be times when you need to work as an individual, you need to make sure that this work is academic, referenced correctly, but also comprehensive and less formal than your essays - remember you will be reciting this to your fellow students, so it needs to be easily understood and easy listening, put yourselves in their shoes.
Communication with your group is crucial to a high quality presentation, so make sure you keep in touch throughout.
When you all meet up again with your individual bits of work, time does need to spent compiling your work and making sure there is a clear "flow" throughout, and that your overall point/message/concept is obvious.
Make sure you leave yourself enough time, not only do you need to do all of the research, write up and group sessions, you need to know (pretty much) everything you have to say, and try to just use cue cards as opposed to reading off an A4 sheet of paper without making any eye contact or communication with your audience.
When you think your presentation is ready, make sure you have checked off the following;
1. Your timings are correct, making sure everybody speaks clearly and slow enough to understand and ensuring that you have accounted for the change overs and slide changes.
2. Your presentation looks professional, is not too cluttered and accompanies your point.
3. Everybody in the group is clear about what they are doing, where they are speaking and how you will stand to make the running of the presentation as smooth as possible.
4. You have practised and practised and practised, to make sure you know what you are supposed to be saying - but also have the ability to improvise should you forget what you have written.
5. Everybody in the group is happy with the presentation as whole and that you all feel confident about presenting it.
Delivering your presentation is SO important, and you need to make sure you have practised as if you were stood infront of an audience, simply because there are so many little things you need to remember;
Physical
- Stand straight and comfortably. Slouching does not look appealing, and could mean your audience lose interest.
- Look around and make eye-contact without staring or glaring. You are delivering the presentation to everybody in the room, not just one person, the floor or your lecturer.
- When you are talking to your friends, you naturally use your hands and facial expressions to enhance communication. Make sure you do this (in moderation) whilst presenting.
Verbal
- Speak loudly and clearly, especially if you are in a big room. Everybody needs to hear you.
- Vary your voice, don't always use the same volume and pitch - monotony is not interesting and your audience will soon switch off.
- Make it clear when you move from one point to another, this can be done with slight pause or change in pitch or tone.
- Use pauses! Speaking quickly with no breaks leaves no room for the audience to absorb your information.
Interaction
- Be aware of how your audience is reacting, are they bored? Are they interested?
- Be open to questions, don't panic, it means your audience are listening!
Remember to smile, breathe deeply and speak confidently. If you have prepared for your presentation, it is almost inevitable that it will go smoothly!
You can find tips, advice and helpful videos on the University of Cumbria website here.
